1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 20 JAN 85 ********************* 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 ++++++++++++ 21 22 Rainbows 23 24 You came upon a storm filled night, 25 bringing light into my life 26 and rainbows to my eyes. 27 28 And now like in my youth, 29 I find I am searching for the gold 30 at the end of that rainbow. 31 Oh please let me find that gold at the end 32 of the rainbow that is you. 33 34 It feels like I'm chasing a rainbow, 35 always just outside my reach. 36 Yes, it feels like I'm chasing rainbows again. 37 38 Oh, please let me find that gold, 39 for I need someone to hold. 40 And it feels like I'm chasing rainbows again. 41 42 Yes, it feels like I'm chasing rainbows again. 43 44 BH 45 46 ++++++++++++ 47 48 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 49 The coffee that they give us, they say is mighy fine. 50 It's good for cuts and bruises, and it tastes like iodine. 51 Gee I hate the army. Boy do I want to go home. 52 53 The crackers that they give us, they say are mighty fine. 54 One fell off a table, and killed a pal of mine. 55 Gee I hate the army. Boy do I want to go home. 56 57 They treat us all like monkeys, they make us stand in line. 58 They give us fifty dollars a week, and take back fourty-nine. 59 Gee I hate the army. Boy do I want to go home. 60 61 yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk double yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk double yuk yuk yuk 62 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 63 `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' 64 |_|_|_|_|_|_|, I warned you it was an emotional issue. You read a lot 65 into it that was not stated or intended, but only existed in your mind. The 66 only point was its not necessarily a virtue! (P.S. I'm not the infamous SC) 67 Guardian, make it one of the Inn's famous nut-brown ales and you've got 68 it. How about this for openers?: 69 Imagine, if you will, that at one time you were in possession of 70 ultimate truth. In knowing this truth you became aware that you 71 would, at some future time, forget this truth. By the same token 72 you would also know where to inscribe this truth so as to be able 73 to find it again. Where might you have chosen as this place? 74 `'`'`'`' -alchemist- `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' 75 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ("I'm sooo confused!" J.Z.) 76 -alchemist- I think that that makes two offers now... I'll have to take you up on yours. Yes very intriguing (hosp?) 77 (I meant sp... grrr) Your question brings as much intrigue as well. My selection of a place would seem rather odd beein 78 being that it would be on an inside rather than on something. What it would be, I won't say since I thought I was supposed 79 to be the cryptic type person here (CRYPTAC). 80 As to reading things into your writing, I can understand how they do it. I think that some people are taking some of 81 it too personaly, rather than letting it rest as a statement. 82 NOW, let us make way for those more intent in continuing the stroy lines... 83 (... I guess that pain would have been the right word for it ...) 84 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian 1733 Jul: 20 85 86 IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO [] 87 ME: THEIR IS A FLAW IN THE LOGIC OF ONE WHO IS KNOWN TO I BUT NOT TO ME. TIME IS FLOWING OUT FROM UNDER TH 88 F MY SEED. I FEEL THE NEED FOR THE AGE OF DIFERNCE TO BLEND WITH MY PRIDE. 89 90 [] 91 POST SCRIPT:MY REALITY IS, AT THIS TIME,RESTRICTED.YOU MUST ACCEPT MY FLOWFOR WHAT IT IS.I LEAVE NOW.THE FEAR 92 IS CALLING.I MUST SUBJECT MY SELFE TO MAN-MADE ICONS OF WHAT IS NOT TO BE. 93 94 [] 95 IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO [] 96 __________::::::::::__________::::::::::__________::::::::::__________:::::::::: 97 Whomever "BH" is, the one who wrote the poem about Rainbows, WOW! 98 I just can't get over all the beautiful poetry I have been seeing here! 99 Please keep up the good work, poets!!! 100 ::::::::::__________:::::::::: The Jiz /// __________::::::::::__________ 101 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 102 The party at Dr. Elizondo's would have been memorable even without the ex- 103 plosion across the hall. There were lots of tropical plants, a tank of iri- 104 descent fish, hangings of zebra and goat skin and a startling collection of 105 voodoo masks as well as an unlimited supply of champagne and elegant food. 106 The armed Rajneeshi hovering about the door intrigued rather than frightened 107 me, and I would have been quite at ease but for the gnawing remembrance of 108 my earlier behavior with Fleming. 109 When it came right down to it, I had withheld information from the NET 110 solely because I didn't like Fleming's socks. As I have mentioned, he 111 enjoyed being disguised as a tennis player or jogger and on these occa- 112 sions always wore spotless white socks that came up to exactly the same 113 spot on each calf, were never even the tiniest bit uneven like other peo- 114 ple's and never needed pulling up. To me, this excessive fastidiousness 115 combined with his obsession with the NET rulebook, his habit of sterili- 116 zing anything he ate with or slept on, and the fact that he never laughed 117 at my jokes added up to a positively Teutonic mania for order that bor- 118 dered on the compulsive. 119 Still. 120 He *was* a NET agent. 121 Even though he had once refused to bring in two Morroccan heroin smugglers 122 because the description of "Method of capture" given by L'homme for the file 123 was "overindulgence" accompanied by a requisition for $3000.00 worth of 124 curry powder from an agent for harem dancers (Fleming regards proper paper 125 work as a sacred trust). Even though he had wasted weeks during the McKane 126 incident staking out an Eastern Orthodox priest in Oklahoma City simply 127 because he liked Albanian olive oil (prompting the normally placid Ian to 128 give him a longish assignment in Rarotonga). Even though he wore those mad- 129 denning impeccable socks. 130 Still. 131 He's on MY SIDE. And that's what counts. 132 Isn't it? 133 The explosion made the neon fish swirl about vibrantly while the masks, 134 briefly illuminated, winked knowingly. I waded to the hallway (the carpet 135 seemed three feet deep) and saw Joshua (found at last!) with L'homme and 136 Fellows and some other people. I felt elated and wanted to wave at them 137 and tell Joshua what a relief it was to see him, but they were moving off 138 in a funny jerky kind of way like they were behind wavy glass. I laughed, 139 feeling the top of my head rise slightly to let the giggles es cape. 140 The Rajneeshie stood beside me. Now in what way, thought I, was he any worse 141 than a NET agent? He was an idealistic fellow doing, in the name of justice, 142 nothing that NET agents don't also do in the name of justice. 143 His clothes were made of a curious material that glowed from within and 144 rippled softly although there was no breeze. 145 "So you held out on Fleming, eh, EX-agent Minsky?" 146 I could barely make sense out of this because a stream of musical notes 147 dancing with hats and canes strutted out of his mouth as he talked and 148 formed a teeny chorus line on his shoulder. 149 "Held out. Yes. EX ??!?!?!??" U Uh-oh. 150 I stared at him. His eyes looked like the eyes on peacock tails and he 151 smiled like a Chrysler. 152 "Don't worry, Gaudy, you won't be out of work. We think you have a great 153 deal to offer. How would you like to work for us?" 154 It occurred to me that I had been drugged. I felt happy and trusting and 155 flattered although part of my mind kept saying "dangerdangerdangerdangerdang 156 erdangerdangerdangerdang" 157 I smiled being careful to hold on to my ears so my mouth wouldn't wrap 158 around all the way and cut off the rest of my head. 159 "I'm not in a position to make such a decision at this time," I said chortl- 160 ing at the way my words formed as cloudy wisps in the corner. 161 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT Gaudy Minsky TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 162 (Swish)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>(Poof!) 163 "...I told Camille that she was very lovely. Dragons, for all of their good 164 points, are terribly vain. Fortunately for me, Camille was not an exception to 165 the rule. The whole conversation went something like this: 166 "'How are you today, dragon?', I asked. 167 "'Hungry', Camille said. 168 "'What? Isn't there a handsome strong male dragon around to court such a 169 beautiful dragon?', I said. 170 "Of course, since dragons are as intelligent as they are, Camille knew that 171 I was just flattering her to save my skin. Still, I had pleased her for a 172 moment, and she didn't eat me. 173 "'No, there is no male here. All I see is a delicious human moving his 174 mandibles.' 175 "At this point, I couldn't resist. I Changed. Into a male dragon, of course. 176 I couldn't hold the shape long- I was inexperienced and a dragon-form is a lot 177 of mass that hs to be projected. 178 "'You ARE an interesting human. I have never seen one of your kind assume 179 other shapes like the doppleganger. Tell me, how do you do that?' 180 "I was shocked. Dragons were supposed to know everything. I suppose that 181 Changing was invented by man, and that Changers were too rare to be seen by 182 dragons. In any case, Camille hadn't ever seen a Change before. I used it to 183 my advantage. 184 "'And what will I receive in return, dragon, for the knowledge I will give 185 to you?', I said. This was dangerous- most other people would be lucky to 186 return alive in this situation. But I had interested her, and suprised her 187 (which is something almost unheard of in dragons, surprise), so Camille felt 188 generous. 189 "'I shall give you a ring from my hoard, tell you my name, and let you go free. 190 Will you agree?' 191 "A name is the most valuable thing you can get from a creature- for if you 192 have its name, you can exert some power over it. Of course, the ring and my 193 life were also large considerations. I consented, and told her the beginnings 194 of Change-lore. 195 "She seemed pleased, and bade me to take a ring of my choosing. As I searched 196 through the tremendous pile of gems, jewelry, and weapons, Camille Changed 197 into several things: a bird, a toad, even a duck. 198 "Finally, I found a good ring. Camille, finally, had found a good shape- that 199 of a human girl. 200 "The shape in itself is not dangerous, but Changing itself is. Let me explain. 201 To Change, you must temporarily surrender part of your identity. The key word 202 here, of course, is TEMPORARY. The longer one remains in a shape, the harder 203 it becomes to change back. 204 "Camille, as I found out a few months later, remained in the girl-form much 205 of the time. At the last, she had been in girl-form for about two months. 206 Suddenly, she was no longer a dragon, but a young girl. She was adopted by 207 loving and understanding parents in a villiage nearby. When word got out that 208 the dragon disappeared, the hoard was soon gone. 209 "I returned after I had heard the news to see what I could do. But, try as I 210 might, I could not discover which girl was Camille. She was to be a dragon 211 no more. 212 "Still later, about another two months, the village found out who was Camille. 213 Apparently, she had remembered her true form and had tried to fly. The 214 mess she left at the foot of the cliff was not a pretty sight. 215 "And the point of this, you all ask? Merely be yourself, for if you try to 216 assume another's form disaster will result. 217 "There is, however, a loose end to my story. The ring that I chose among all 218 those in Camille's hoard was magical. The magic, however, I have yet to 219 discover how to work. One of the reasons I came here is to see if one of the 220 patrons here has any experience with rings, and if he/she could help me." 221 (Poof!)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Master Changer >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>(Swish) 222 Master Changer: Hast thou perchance studied at the Immanent Grove? Or have 223 (pardon, HAST not HAVE) thou met he who is known as Sparrowhawk? 224 ................................the apprentice............................. 225 I heard an interesting set of riddles today: 226 Q. How many Afghanis does it take to chang a light bulb? 227 A. 3, one to change the bulb and two to ambush the Russian supply train. 228 229 Q. How many Russians does it take to change a light bulb? 230 A. 4001. One to change the bulb and 4000 to set up a defensive perimeter 231 against the two Afghanis! 232 233 Q. When will then Russiains leave Afghanistan? 234 A. As soon as they find the #%^$^& who invited them! 235 (Don't blame ME, blame my roommate!) 236 ____________________________________Leonard________________________________ 237 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 238 KGEPD PTFLO DXMDP TAD[E _JAID TAJJF LZ[ED _SA[E _JAHB RAC^F LZ[\D _PTAU 239 DCJAD ZXFLZ DLGPE DPJUF LZDPX HBMFZ GJADX GPDST FNTD[ K_RAP PAJDV CFJ[K 240 DE_TY [EHB_ JAVJA EALPE [MHBB _FCLH B[HB_ A[^\_ NEWGC JAIHB BBBBB BBBBB 241 242 To:certain concerned users 243 While secrecy is part of the intent of the "code", it is intended 244 as a puzzle for you to solve.... 245 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 246 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^ 247 No episod X+3 yet, I tend to be easily distracted. 248 By the way, the rainbow poem is WONDERFUL. Encore please. 249 250 A FAMILAR VOICE 251 252 I sat up in the dark and stared at the glowing numbers on the 253 clock. The little voices in my head were screaming at one another 254 for the second night in a row. Some of them weren't happy, they 255 wanted to leave. I didn't know why yet, let's hope I have grown 256 past the attention getting stage. I would hate to be that trite. 257 And if I said I wanted to leave now I would have to give an explain- 258 ation, and I didn't have one. 259 Next to me was the nicest person (god that sounds sappy) I had 260 seen since my divorce. And one of my voices kept screaming to get 261 out of here. It didn't make any sence. I was happier than I had 262 been in a year and this guy wouldn't let me sleep. This was what I 263 had said I had wanted, just someone to be with without the pomp and 264 all the hassle. Someone to fill the gaps when I felt the gaps. 265 Someone to share with, someone I could talk to, or not talk to. 266 So why was this so insistant. And why so familiar? Why was this 267 particular refusing me sleep. 268 This voice had whisper black things before my wedding, and had 269 laughed when I went to pick up my divorce papers. It was a cruel, 270 I-told-you-so voice, a sadist. 271 I got up slowly, and dressed without turning on the light. I 272 didn't even look at the softly breathing form on the bed, but the 273 sound of that breath roared in my ears. 274 I felt like a coward for not saying good-bye. 275 At home I turned over one and went to sleep. 276 277 Adrian 278 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^ 279 HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 280 A mouse can be useful at times, but it is distracting to have to take 281 your hands off the keyboard--the best way to do it is to have the 282 mouse on the floor. It takes a bit of practice, but it gives you that 283 "third hand" you need for some programs... What is needed in programs 284 is a way to switch off the menus as you become more proficient with 285 it. An ideal way(to me) to have a program set up would be to have a 286 program call a separate menu routine; when the user becomes suffic- 287 iently proficient(say that fast 3 times) that the menus get in the way 288 the program would no longer call the menu routine--and reduce the size 289 of the program. The Crimson Blues 290 HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 291 292 swish-poof: I thought a doppelganger was like a ghost or double of a 293 living person that acted out his alter-ego. 294 adrian: Is that a true story? It's SO SAD;if it's true, go call up the 295 person you left sleeping and tell her(/him) about the cynical 296 mocking voice so she'll know what makes you tick; she won't 297 laugh really really really. 298 CARCIOFO BENE 299 300 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 301 MASTER CHANGER: I LIKE THE SPEAK-WITH-DRAGONS STORY, BUT HAVE A 302 QUESTION ABOUT SHAPE CHANGING THAT MAYBE YOU CAN CLEAR UP. IT 303 CONCERNS THE BASIC CLASSES OF MAGIC. NOW IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A 304 CHANGE AND A SIMPLE DISGUISE SPELL ARE OF A TOTALLY DIFFERENT 305 ORDER. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO TRUE(AND YOU ALLUDED TO IT IN YOUR 306 STORY) THAT YOUR ESSENCE REMAINS WITH YOU, ie. THE CHANGE IN 307 APPEARANCE THAT ACCOMPANIES THE CHANGE IS NOT RANDOM. WHENEVER 308 YOU CHANGE INTO A HUMAN YOU APPEAR AS YOU ALWAYS HAVE AS A HUMAN. 309 THE QUESTION IS WHEN YOU CHANGE INTO A FORM OTHER THAN YOUR 310 NATURAL ONE (FOR EXAMPLE WOLF) ARE YOU FEATURES THE SAME (SUCH AS 311 MARKINGS OF THE FUR, EYE COLOR, WALK, RUN ? 312 ANYBODY: IS ADRIAN MALE OR FEMALE, AND IS /SHE/HE/ DELIBERATELY NOT 313 USING SEXED PRONOUNS IN ORDER TO HIDE /HER/HIS/ SEX? WHY? 314 PERRY SMITH 315 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 316 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (...) 317 Perry, as I have said before, and I presume it applies to others as well, I for one enjoy what little privacy I have. 318 Pseudonyms and ambiguity are a couple ways to retain that feeling of security. Even if you tell someone a little bit about 319 yourself, they will no know who you are if you construct for yourself the Wall of a 'pen-name'. 320 Adrian: Fact or Fiction, the Inn is a wonderful place to bare the soul. Your latest entry was tactful and well written. 321 Mother: "Did it need to be so high?" -P.F. 322 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian 21:040737 323 324 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (a question concerning STATUS: ENTER ONLY on DA) 325 Cistop Mikey: How long will we remain on standby before we will be allowed to 326 return to the happy days of ALL ALLOWED? Is it because one of the 327 regular patrons is suspect? (bite my tounge) My 'cadre' wants to know. 328 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->Sondargaard 21:04 supplemental 329 330 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 331 Meanwhile, on an uncharted tropical isle, somewhere in the labyrinthine 332 folds of the fabric of multiple realities, the piper is running down a white 333 coral beach. Running beside him, a white pegasus dips her muzzle, and with 334 a feather touch against one bare foot brushes it slightly, and causes the 335 piper to land in the shallow water in an incredible mixture of water, sand 336 and laughter. The pegasus moves to stand beside him, the bright tropical 337 sun glancing off her flanks revealing only a thin line where the cruel claws 338 had inflicted grevious injury. The pegasus wheels and darts away as the 339 piper reaches for her neck. Only a slight tightening of the eyes betrays his 340 concentration as he watches her motions -- alert for any telltale hesitation 341 or stiffness in her motions. The two play an improvised game of tag for 342 several more minutes, then the piper throws himself to the sand in the shade 343 of a picture-postcard palm tree. The pegasus folds her legs and lies near 344 him in the soft warm sand. 345 "Peg, you're healing up fine," said the piper caressing the pegasus' 346 warm nose. "We might be able to try a flight or two soon." 347 The pegasus' intellegent eyes gleamed. Her ears assumed a new angle, 348 indicating interest. 349 "We've got to take it slowly, though," the piper continued. "Your 350 muscles were pretty badly cut up in that last fight." He sat up and began 351 running his hands over the pegasus' body. "This cut," he continued, 352 "damaged your major flight muscles. It seems to have healed right, but 353 it's bound to have weakened from disuse. Peg, we've got to start exercising 354 your flying muscles before you try to fly again." 355 The pegasus turned her neck and rested her head against the piper's side. 356 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 357 IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO [] 358 ME/ALL: 359 It is interesting how the sexs express affection.The need for men to label things that thay feel affectio 360 to as feminine is not suppriseing.Men allways,it seems,have fely that their was something unnatural in giveing le 361 to something that was not labeled female.As though, their masculinity rests on the gender of their most adored 362 posestions. 363 Women don't seem to have this need.Perhaps it is that women have learned that affection is merely an aspect 364 of humanity.It is as much a part of masculinity as it is romance.While the man(perhaps subconcisely) sees it 365 still as a weakness. 366 Just a thought.... 367 368 [] 369 IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO [] 370 The end of line 360 should have read'giveing love'. 371 [] 372 IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO [] 373 374 375 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 376 377 Spray from the crashing surf stretchs its fingers into the air, 378 spreading into a fine mist by the time in reaches my perch high above the 379 beach. The water swirls and boils angrily on the rocks, then sullenly 380 draws back in preparation for another sortie in its eternal war against the 381 land. Gulls soar and dive nearby, quarreling noisily over food, or perhaps 382 they are in heated debate about the ramifications of some delicate point of 383 Laridaeian philosophy. And I see that the fog is beginning to creep 384 landward, enveloping the beach and slowly obscuring my view of the world 385 around me. Ah, this day might certainly rate high on someone's fog index, 386 if only they could find a way to properly measure it. 387 388 Standing, I realize that my legs have gone to sleep, and I am colder 389 than I had thought. I should really be getting back to the motel soon 390 before I become the home for a family of pneumococcus! It's a long climb 391 down, and with feeling just beginning to return to my legs, I'll be slow 392 for the first part of the trek. Arrrgh! I have heard this feeling 393 described as "exquisite agony", and I rediscover the accuracy of that 394 phrase once again. Stumbling occasionally, I descend along the somewhat 395 overgrown path, past trees whose forms have been fixed in a strange 396 grasping shape due to the wind that blows constantly from the sea. 397 398 As I round the bend that leads onto the last portion of the path I can 399 see the motel to the east, and I scan the long stretch of beach that 400 separates the motel from this promontory I see..... OH SHIT! There's water 401 below! Stupid, stupid, stupid! I begin to run, as well as I can run while 402 going downhill, and much faster than is safe. Slipping, sliding, sometimes 403 falling, picking myself up again without slackening my pace, I fly down the 404 path. My coat catches on a limb and tears, another branch slaps me 405 stingingly across the cheek, but I pay little attention in my growing fear. 406 How could I be so foolish? Lost in thought, communing with nature, I so 407 lost track of time that I may have trapped myself into a cold and perhaps 408 even deadly night up here. Nature is beautiful, but she is also fierce and 409 unforgiving of stupidity, an attribute that I sometimes display overmuch. 410 411 When I reach the bottom I can see that the water is moving slowly, but 412 I'm separated from clear beach by a good distance. Grabbing a large stick 413 nearby, I poke it down into the water and find to my relief that it's only 414 about two feet deep here. I step down into the water and begin to walk 415 toward the motel, but I find that the current in the water is swifter than 416 I had thought at first. Though the water is shallow, the pull below the 417 surface is great, and I find that I am having a hard time maintaining my 418 balance as I move forward. Suddenly, the current grows stronger, my feet 419 are pulled out from under me, and I fall. The cold of the water, combined 420 with the strength of fear, helps me to regain my feet, and I reach the 421 beach in short order. 422 423 Back in my room, having taken a long hot shower, I begin to relax in 424 my robe in front of the plastic log in the fake fireplace of the cheap 425 beachfront motel. I'm still shivering from the cold, and from the fear of 426 what almost happened. "What fools these mortals be" cried Puck, and 427 tonight I not only proved that I can be a fool but nearly demonstrated my 428 mortality as well. But even in the worst of events a lesson can be 429 learned, and a smile curls the corners of my mouth. For one who sometimes 430 decries the uselessness of existence, I certainly clung strongly to life 431 when the time came. An interesting point, and one that will be remembered 432 for at least a week I'm sure. 433 434 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM+[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 435 436 437 |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| 438 PAM: It was the first entry I believe I've read by you. I can see why people 439 awaited your return so anxiously. You cetainly have a way of describing things, 440 to say the least. 441 ADRIAN: I, too, wonder if your story was true or not. 442 ALCHEMIST: Perhaps, I did not read your entry on spelling carefully enough. 443 Take my entry, not as an "attack" but a point of view. 444 |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| 445 |_|_|_|_|_|_| 446 One last thing I'm reminded of.... 447 MAD ACTOR: You, perhaps, should read my entry on DB. Hopefully it won't be gone 448 by the time you log on next. Remember, it's no attack, just point of view. 449 ALCHEMIST: I can see, though, how it would be taken that way, Sorry! 450 |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| 451 ________________Melissa--------------------------------Melissa________________ 452 M A G E N (cont.-7) 453 454 I spotted Raza a long way down the beach. He was trudging along in a 455 determined stride. His shirt and tie were thrown over his shoulder but he 456 still had those shoes on. I placed my own foot on the cool green moss and 457 felt the tingle of the connection. It was obvious from Raza's walk that he 458 was not going to want to climb up the hill. I should go down to the beach 459 and meet him. 460 Walking down the flower lined path I paused frequently to smell the 461 blossoms and marvel at the many colors and patterns. This was one of my 462 favorite walks. Part way down I climbed one of the trees to pick a luscious, 463 ripe mango for Raza. They can be so refreshing on a warm day. Before I knew 464 it I was standing under the palm trees at the edge of the beach. Raza was 465 past the end of the cove heading this way. I started walking toward him. 466 It's amazing how many things can run through your mind in a few seconds of 467 walking toward someone, anticipating meeting eye-to-eye. 468 "Hi Love, I'm so glad you decided to come back." I held out my arms to 469 Raza. As our eyes met my heart seemed to skip a beat. For a moment we held 470 each other and time melted away into that endless moment of ecstasy. All too 471 soon the tensing of his muscles brought me back to the present. He let go of 472 me, stepped back and gave a long searching look. 473 "Magen..." 474 I took his hand and started toward the shade of the nearest palm tree. "I 475 brought you a ripe mango. Why don't we sit over here while you refresh 476 yourself from that walk in the hot sun?" 477 "I appreciate the thought but I've got to talk to you. Anyway I'd get 478 mango all over my clothes. Those things are so juicy and drippy." 479 "Have you forgotten how to eat a mango too! Just take off your clothes and 480 wade out into the water up to your neck. After you finish eating duck your 481 head under water and shake it." I smiled, and a little laugh bubbled out. 482 "I'm afraid I don't have time for jokes. I came over here to have a 483 serious talk with you about this preaching in the market on saturdays. Do 484 you realize a kind of a cult following is forming around some of your ..er 485 unusual ideas?" 486 "I was hoping we could be here together and just watch the sunset. If we 487 must talk I'd like to start off by saying I still love you very much." 488 "Yes Magen, I love you too, but you've got to stop some of this stuff your 489 doing and saying. Some people are starting to say your getting a little 490 crazy. Why don't you try to be reasonable. The power plant is here to make 491 life better for all of us." 492 "I hope this doesn't qound like I think I'm something special, but there 493 are times when I feel like the only person with sight, trying to explain to 494 the blind what it's like to see. In this case it's not that people are blind 495 it's that they have forgotten. Forgotten something essential." 496 497 ---My goodness, gone two days and I seem to have missed a disk, or part of one. 498 I guess it has to happen to all of us sooner or later. 499 ----------------Melissa________________________________Melissa---------------- 500 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^ 501 PAM 502 Your story is really wonderful. The paceing (something I always have 503 problems with) is perfect. May I do as well someday. It makes me wish 504 that I had a way to save this material, including my own but with the 505 way things are there is no way. 506 Everybody 507 I am... I was going to answer some of the questions about me, but I have 508 decided that that is not the best right now. The wall is indeed high, and 509 it has been up for a long time. If I said anything now I would lose the 510 chance to do the writing that I need the most, the kind that takes all the 511 dirt and poisons out of my head and puts them onto the screen. 512 Sometimes it is such a pleasure to reach back and flip the swich and watch 513 those words disappear. I can't lose that right now. 514 Besides it's kind of fun to be mysterious. 515 Adrian 516 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^ 517 At almost an instant in time an entruder steps onto the scene. 518 What has transpired seemed to go unnoticed.The tripical sun and waves 519 of unrest only hinted of memurable 520 if not pleasent moments. 521 the police were of little concern in 522 that they were easily sidetracked. 523 That was the problem. It was to easy. 524 haEven the NET proved on contest. 525 What was one to do. 526 527 528 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 529 SORRY I ASKED. WOW, SOMETIMES YOU PEOPLE CAN BE HARD ON A PERSON. IT IS 530 VERY DISTURBING TO THINK I CAN BE STEREOTYPED SO QUICKLY. MAYBE I HAD BETTER 531 START OVER SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR IS THERE A CHANCE THAT I WILL RECOVER? 532 533 ADRIAN: PLEASE TAKE NO OFFENSE. NONE WAS MENT. I WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE SUCH 534 AN OUTLET FROM YOU. I AM JUST THE INQUIZATIVE SORT AND SOMETIMES 535 (USUALLY) LACK TACT. WE SHARE A DIVORCE IN OUR PAST (IF THAT STORY WAS 536 INDEED FACT) AND I GOT CURIOUS. 537 PERRY SMITH 538 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 539 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= 540 To all NET agents: WIMPS!!!!!! 541 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=**=*=*=* Elizabeth Ryan *=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 6:07pm on 1/21/85 *=*=*=*= 542 543 whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop! 544 For all that remember the Grizzly - Ham cutter - J.C. Well, the guy 545 finally went out and bought his modem so I can't keep him off the system 546 any longer. He should show up around the beginning of the month. Maybe 547 you don't remember him - he is the one true juvie, nerd, outspoken guy 548 who always thinks he is right. 549 Get the children off the streets! Shut the windows and lock them, here 550 he comes! Hopefully, common sense will prevail and he will enter something 551 intelligent, maybe. Whe can only hope. 552 whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop! 553 554 -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> 555 BH: very nice poem, I liked it very much. It hit something inside that 556 made me sit up and listen, very nice poem! 557 To all that sit and wonder if the entry is from a lady or a man, it is 558 possible to tell from the words the person used in a certain case, sometimes. 559 Some phrases are used by women more than men. But even then it would be hard 560 to spot who is who. It is hard to tell but we should allow people to have 561 thier own privacy. Sticking my nose into people's business wouldn't be right. 562 They might get a little crabby about it. 563 There is another factor that is noticable, the ladies get more attention 564 than the men do. Unless the guy makes a bad ussumption about another person 565 then they usually don't get the mail that the ladies do. But anyway, people 566 should be allowed thier secracy if they want it. 567 -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ( enter only, yuck ) 568 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 569 Ms. Ryan 570 Unless you are part of "the underground", I fail to see what we have 571 done to deserve your comment. 572 Ian MacHinery 573 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 574 575 ........................................................................ 576 (UPI Vancouver, WA) A convoy of US Army trucks was hijacked today as 577 they moved from Seattle to Ft. Lewis. While authorities will not 578 comment on whether nuclear weapons were involved, an unnamed source 579 revealed that a "small shipment" of conventional weapons was taken. 580 Included in the shipment were Ingram sub-machine guns, thermite grenades 581 and classified communications gear, as well as a great deal of other 582 weaponry. The motive for the theft is unknown at this time, but local 583 authorities, according to outgoing Portland Police Chief Ron Still, are 584 "preparing for the worst". While no group or individual has yet claimed 585 credit for the theft, they are expected to soon. "You don't steal this 586 kind of firepower without a reason", said Lt. General Bruce "Bloody 587 Butts" Irwin. 588 ........................................................................ 589 :::::::::::::O O:::::::::22:39:::::::::::::::::::01/21::::::::O O::::::: 590 PAM: another nice entry. Was that the plastic fireplace log & electric 591 flames I overread you speaking to Mr. Wassir about on another board? 592 If I recall correctly, you did end up hosting that family of pneumo- 593 cocci. Not a total loss, though, as it gave rise to another profitable 594 (from our point of view) visit to the Inn. 595 All: Prometheus Hawthorne (you remember him - he's the one that uses up 596 a years' quota of periods in one entry) and Lady S. have asked me to 597 remember them to you all. It seems they are experiencing that all-too- 598 familiar problem--continuous busy signals while trying to access 599 BackWater. They vow to return ASAP, but given the recent accessibility 600 of our favorite board, who knows when that will be? 601 P. Smith: given the state of interpersonal relations these days, it's 602 a rare person who has 'enjoyed' adulthood for very long who has NOT 603 also acquired an 'ex-'. (along with that delightful child support, 604 weekend fatherhood, et cetera ad nauseum...). 605 :::::::::::::O O::::::::::::::::::voyeur::::::::::::::::O O::::::::::::: 606 finally... after a week of terminal slashing... and three days of patient dialing... a carrier... and a set of disks that 607 y of the elusive archivists would love to put under wraps... including all sorts of hallucinogenics and stuff... 608 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 609 voyeur... thank you for reminding others... it is truly annoying to call every few hours... for a week... and still find a 610 busy signal... annoying...! 611 pam... accurate entry... the way you described the fall into the stream felt right... it reminds me of many times... and i 612 thank you for it... i may now understand why it is rare for you to enter stories here... 613 as cistop mikey and piper have mentioned... all of your stories are ingrained deeply with self... they are important to 614 your life... and you... and it is rare to find situations appropriate for backwater... 615 anyway... i thank you for entering your stories as you wish... and sorry if i became to personal... if it were not for 616 enter only... 617 618 gaudy minsky... net and their rulebooks be blasted... i offer you now an membership in thrike... we have dental benefits.. 619 sondargaard... i approve... i meant to leave a message in the bin... i suppose tomorrow... 620 mark forsyth... lay off... i am not fond of your attitude... nor the way you abuse people when they are not capable of 621 even seeing they are being insulted... nor proving that you are wrong... lay off... 622 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 623 624 I often feel depressed, and sometimes Backwater provides the proper outlet for expressing myself, especially now. 625 I lifted my head, the couch was cracking my neck, it was now hard to move. There would be no sleeping on this couch. 626 I sat up, letting the sheet fall to the sides, and twisted my neck trying to shake off the pain. 627 In twisting, I saw her sleeping, on the bed. Softly I heard a nice little whistle. She did not appear to be breathing, it 628 was serene to watch the perfect curves of her female form. 629 I allowed myself one more look at my sleeping girlfriend, and then stalked off to the closet, in search of a pillow. TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629